Seanad debates

Wednesday, 10 November 2004

10:30 am

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I find myself slightly at odds with some of the comments made in the House today but that is not unusual. I agree with the need for a debate primarily focused on the Middle East in the light of what sadly seems like the impending death of President Arafat. It may not be widely known that Ireland not only plays a key role at a political level but that under our development aid programme we contribute directly to UNRA, which operates in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. As my colleague Senator Norris knows, yesterday's debate at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs centred on the involvement of the various NGOs. Senator Ryan also attended that meeting. Perhaps I remembered Senator Norris because one contribution was more voluble than the other. In that context, we should consider what is happening in the Middle East but we should focus specifically on events in Palestine and Israel. I am sure the Leader and Members on all sides will agree this is where the key to providing solutions to the ongoing problems lies. Prime Minister Blair publicly stated in recent days that in his first post-election meeting with President Bush he intends to make that issue the focus of the bilateral dialogue. As a result of Ireland's involvement in the region, it would be appropriate for the House to engage in a debate on the matter. Perhaps the Leader will set time aside for such a debate, in which my focus would be on the Middle East rather than events in Iraq.

Despite the pro or anti rhetoric we have heard this morning, from a human perspective we should think of the families who are being killed. We should also consider the families of those dying on the other side of the battle in Iraq. We sometimes lose sight, with all the rhetoric being uttered, of the human cost of war.

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